The Butler weekly times., 1887-03-16

Ihe door opened here. and q stout.
elderly gentleman entered with 4 great
deal OF hustle.
I've called to look at this marine
picture said he. Hope l don't IN
trude. with Il comprehensive bow all
around 20 the ladies. "but | am exceed
lng-ly anxious 10 secure this, for an out
OF town customer of mine. who is COL
Letting a gallery. What DO Won ask
for 1t. Radcliffe? Come-pu, it Ut the
lowest cash price. I'll give thousand
for i. and lwon't give penny more"
II GU re too late, said Harry. with
chuekle. ''Bons,ettin has ordered it at
twelve hundred"
Twelve hundredr' exclaimed the
plcture-,leaicr-"Bo "Bonstettin. But he
shan't have it. I'll say fifteen hundred
sooner than lhai!'
Il IN sorry observed Harry; ..bu, it
was painted expressly to order Tor him."
''Coulda't you duplicate it?"
IL never duplicate any OF my pictures"
But something like it? Come-a
Venice view with lots of moonlight, n
gondola. and big smudg. of shadow
in the left-hand corner. with An assas-
sin lurking there-eh? Something with
3 motive"
La" exclaimed Aunt Tabby. under
her breath.
"Tll think it over. and let you know"
said Radcliffe. languidly. AT presen,
I've got as much as can do"
Which was unfortunately an indubit.
able fact. as our poor young hero was
not vet strong enough to handle mahl-
stick.
The dealer-no other than De Kaye
in masquerade-retreated grumbling.
AUNT Tabby's eyes scintillated joy-
fully.
Harry" she cried. you're on the
high road to fortune! You certainly
arer'
Il hope SO, aunt" said the young
man, wearily.
Two other customers, apparently all
eagerness. arrived during the course
of the evening. One carried off the
picture of basket of luscious peaches
upturned in y nest of hay; the other
made conditional bargain for bunch
of daisies in Il slender green vase.
against background of wine-colored
draperies.
A delicate little supper of lobster cro-
| quettes. chocolate. and salad. was serv-
ed at eight and Aunt Tabby went to
bed rejoicing in the luxurious apart
ment, with a stained-glass window and
Florentine hangings, which Mr.. De
Kaye had vacated specially on her ac-
| count.
why don't everybody turn artist?'
she said. to herself. ITS a business
where one can positively coin money.
| Harry has improved wonderfully, and
| that wife of his is the sweetest woman !
| ever saw"
She staid only two or three days in
the Wycherly Building. Aunt Tabitha
| Talbot always was restless soul, and
could no more abide in one place than
the wandering south wind.
| But when she went home she sent for
"A lawyer. and made her will i'll her
| Nephew Harry favor. Nor was it any
too soon. for she died of apoplexy with
| in three months.
Poor old Aunt Tabby," said the
| young artist. IL only wish she could
have lived to be as old as Methuselah.
But now that she has no further use fol-
ner money, must own that it comes
uncommonly convenient to us-eh,
CoGuc,tee"
do You know, Harry" said Coquette,
who was just writing letter to invite
five sisters to come and visit her, 'Pve
often questioned myself as to whether
we did right in making Aunt Tabby
believe We were SO prosperous?"
Gould man help being prosperou:
with wife like you. Coquette?"
DO hush. Harry! But can't thinh
it was altogether wrong when l recall
that that day seemed the turning poin,
of all our fortunes. Orders really begar
to come in after that Everything wen
we'll"
| ''One thing is very certain" sale
Harry. Il never should have amount
ed to anything without you, Coquette. ,
| And he checked her remonstranc'
with q kiss.